Gujarat man sentenced to death for sexually assaulting, killing mentally retarded minor boy

The Mahila Court on Thursday awarded death penalty to a 34-year-old man hailing from Gujarat for sexually assaulting and murdering a mentally retarded 17-year-old minor boy in the district in December 2019. Mahila Court Judge R. Sathya awarded death sentences to the accused, A. Thanish Patel, on three counts for the sexual assault under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019 and a life sentence for murder under the Indian Penal Code Prosecution sources, said Patel, then working as a heavy vehicle operator in a private crusher unit near Kolathur, had kidnapped the boy from the bazaar area in Keeranur sub division in a two-wheeler and took him to a desolate spot where he sexually assaulted the minor on December 18, 2019. Patel had also inserted a stick in the minor's anus causing grievous internal injuries to the boy.